Published: July 4, 2025
Interlude (so-called SS), so I will post two today.
The next chapter "0075 Port Festival" will be posted at 9 PM as usual.
In the suburbs of the Debuhi Empire's Imperial Capital, at the Third Magic Training Ground.
There, a mock battle was currently being conducted by the imperial mage brigade.
The exercise was divided into groups of twenty.
If the court mages of the Naitorei Kingdom had seen that scene, they would have undoubtedly been astonished, their faces contorted in disbelief.
Firstly, no one was chanting spells.
Moreover, the power of each attacking spell was vastly different from the magic known to the kingdom's mages.
Furthermore, they were not activating magic while standing still; they were doing so while moving.
Shooting Fireballs while running, or intercepting oncoming Fireballs with air slashes to nullify them…
Six people were watching over this.
The imperial mage brigade commander Fiona Rubine Bornemissa.
The vice commander of the imperial mage brigade, Oscar Lusk.
Fiona's aide, Marie.
Oscar's aide, Jurgen Bartel.
And the commanders of the two squads currently engaged in the exercise.
The one casting the most severe gaze upon the exercise was the vice commander, Oscar.
"This is the maximum we can achieve at this point, huh…"
It was a mere whisper, not directed at anyone in particular, but cold sweat trickled down the backs of the two squad captains standing behind him.
They looked as if they would apologize at any moment.
"If we think about how far we've come in six months, it's not something to be overly pessimistic about."
Commander Fiona’s words were gentle, but her gaze upon the exercise was anything but kind.
"Yes. And how long will it take to reach the scale of a 'brigade' with only two more squads? For now, let's conclude this exercise here."
"Indeed, that sounds right."
At Fiona's signal, Oscar fired a magical bullet of three colors that could be described as a signal for the end of combat, and it burst in the air.
The two squads that had been in the middle of the exercise stood up straight upon confirming the signal for the end of battle and faced the audience.
Only one person seemed to have collapsed, having sat down exhausted.
"Idiot!"
It was unclear who had uttered those words...
In an instant, a thin arrow of flame grazed the right cheek of the collapsed individual and struck the ground.
"Yikes!"
A scream escaped the mouth of the soldier who had fallen.
The flame arrow had been shot from the hand of vice commander Oscar.
"Fool! Just because combat has ended, don’t let your guard down. The moment you think it’s over is the time you need to be most vigilant!"
"Yes!"
All the members of the squad responded.
"We'll hear words from the commander. Everyone, pay attention."
With that, Oscar nodded slightly toward Fiona.
"Everyone, you did well in the exercise. You have improved since last time, but I cannot yet say it meets the passing mark."
Upon hearing Fiona's words, the members stood even more rigidly.
"Starting tomorrow, the vice commander and I will be heading to the port town of Whitnash in the Naitorei Kingdom with his highness the third prince, Conrad. Our return is scheduled for a month later. When we come back, I expect to see you all improved once again in the next exercise. I believe I will be able to witness your further progress. That is all."
With the words "that is all," everyone performed an imperial-style salute, placing their right hands on their left chests.
Though there were just over fifty of them, not many at all, it was a sight that was fittingly impressive, making it clear that each of them was elite.
After the four, including commander Fiona, retired to the commander's room, the members of the imperial mage brigade began cleaning up the training ground.
There were no fools among them who would slack off here.
By the smooth progress of daily training, they could expand their own powers. As a result, they could survive on the battlefield.
Everyone present had experienced that as a real-life lesson.
And for daily training to proceed smoothly, the training ground must always be maintained.